Peaceful Wonder

 Peaceful Wonder

Barefoot on a beach,
 sand churns in the swash
and backwash,
as waves stretch ever higher.
I close my eyes and listen,
feel my rhythms blend
with the rolling waves,
 lively breeze
that stirs evergreens
on the rocky shore nearby.
Grounded and secure,
I breathe into my depths
and out to vastness of the sky
and the wide horizon.
Cool, briny water
  gently surrounds my legs,
shifts the sand beneath my feet.
Subtle and effortless,
my entire being adjusts anew.
I fill with a sense of peaceful wonder,
reminiscent of childhood
before wonder became doubt.
I smile with a knowing
that keeps on growing.
Though doubts still swirl,
they are gentle,
can be spoken if need be
 and released in safety.
Outside in,
inside out-
                 healing
                                 continues
                to unfold.

Sarah Carlson
September 20, 2024